Portrait de Voltaire 1718 - 1724

Curator: What a striking portrait. There's a certain enigmatic quality, isn’t there? Editor: Absolutely. The oval composition feels both intimate and somewhat staged, almost theatrical. Curator: Indeed. What we are viewing is Nicolas de Largillière’s "Portrait de Voltaire", crafted sometime between 1718 and 1724. It’s an oil painting. Consider the context: Largillière, a leading portraitist, captures Voltaire, the intellectual firebrand. Editor: You see how the paint is laid, thick in the lace, capturing light in a particular way, perhaps alluding to the textile industries propped up during the early modern period by the hands of underpaid labourers. Curator: Certainly, we can explore the socioeconomic dynamics at play, as Voltaire himself engaged in debates about social hierarchy and justice, and by commissioning this painting, he would have contributed to a cycle of consumption within the wealthy merchant classes. More plainly, notice Voltaire’s gaze: direct, knowing, as if challenging the viewer to engage. It’s a curated self-presentation. Editor: And I’m drawn to the texture, the deliberate brushstrokes giving life to the wig. It appears more lifelike, almost breathing, whereas his face is far less lively and somewhat flattened, as if emphasizing the constructed artifice of nobility. Curator: Yes, the textures offer such interesting contrasts. What do you suppose Largillière sought to communicate about Voltaire’s public persona? The soft elegance contrasts the intellectual power, the challenges Voltaire posed to societal norms. Editor: Perhaps it was a strategic way for Voltaire to assert himself within a particular social milieu, to navigate those established institutions and create a space for discourse. And it certainly did serve the painter well, I imagine, to claim this well known persona as a client! Curator: Exactly! The portrait itself is performing social and cultural work. Consider how images like this circulate, shaping our perception of historical figures. It is clear that it gives insight into his societal status. Editor: It is thought provoking when considered with regards to artistic representation of that era. Thank you, that provides great clarity for this image. Curator: It's been fascinating to explore those subtleties, particularly within the artistic traditions that have constructed not only our world, but our way of viewing the world and material items, too!